Vacuum cleaning apparatus



E. T. S. CLIFFE.

VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HLEDMAR.3|,1919.

1,345,478, A f Patented July 6, 192()l -PATNT OFFIC.

ELZA T. S. CLIFFE, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO.

VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1920.

Application filed March 31, 1919. Serial No. 286,526.

To all whom t may concern:

citizen of theUnited States of j America,

residing at Mansfield', inthe county cf Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Cleaning Apparatus, o f which the following is a specification, reference bemg had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a vacuum cleaning apparatus, and has'special reference to that typeI of apparatus' which is manually shifted over a surface to be cleaned and electrically operated to produce a suction or reduction of atmospheric pressure in the apparatus to remove dirt and other matter from surfaces, and convey the same to a suitable receptacle. A

The primary object of my invention is to provide a vacuum cleaning apparatus ofthe above type with positive and reliable means, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, for collecting, conveying and compressing dirt and other matter into briquets or other forms so that the same may be conveniently removed from the apparatus.

Another object of' my invention is to furnish a vacuum cleaning apparatus with a novel self-adjusting container for dust and other matter in which the dust and matter may be packed so as to occupy a comparatively small rspace and be easil removed from the container. Such an addltion to the apparatus obviates the necessity of using a baO or similar receptacle.

further obj ect of my invention is to pro vide a vacuum cleaning apparatus with simple and effective means for compressing dust and other matter within the apparatus, without any danger of the apparatus being clogged or rendered inoperative due to the accumulation of dirt in the movable parts thereof.

The above and other objects are attained by a mechanical construction that will be, hereinafter considered, and reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan of the vacuum cleaning apparatus, partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same; l

Fig. 3 is across sectional view .taken on the line III- III of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken'on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2, and

: Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modified form of my invention.

In the drawing, the reference numeral 1 denotes a casingl having an inclined front wall 2, inclined end walls 3 and inclined rear walls 4, said casing being somewhat frustopyramidical shaped adjacent its end and said casing includes a bottom plate or base 5 which at` its front edge has an inclined rearwardly extending wall 6 coperating with the lower edges of the walls 2 and 3 providing a nozzle 7 adapted to be moved over a surface, as a carpet.

The end walls 3, adjacent the front wall 2, have casters 8 and the rear walls 4 are provided with casters 9 adapted to coperate with the casters 8 in supporting the appa-- ratus above a floor with the nozzle 7 in proximity thereto, so that when a partial vacuum is produced within ,the nozzle 7, dust, dirt and other matter will be drawn therein. In order that the samenozzle may serve another source for producing the suction in the nozzle, the front wall 2, intermediate the ends thereof has a connection 10 normally closed by a cap 11.

Intermediate the ends of the casing 1 is a cylindrical shell r cam housing 12 which has its axis at a right angle to the casing 1 and extends rearwardly from said casing, the front end of said shell communicating with an opening in a longitudinal partition 13 in the casing 1, said partition forming the rear wall of the nozzle 7 The shell 12 is provided with a bearing 14 coperating with the bearing 15,01: the front wall 2 in supporting a motor driven shaft 16 which extends longitudinally of the shell 12 and is provided with a beveled gear wheel 17 meshing with a beveled gear wheel 18 on the -lower end of the armature shaft 19 of an electric motor 20, said motor beingff mounted on top of the casing 1. The top 'of y a suction or partial-vacuum in the; nozzle 7 to direct dust, dirt and other matter col' lected lby said nozzle toward the rear end of the shell.,

Intermediatethe ends of the shell 12 is a conical partition 24 having a central openin providingl clearance for the motor driven shaft 16, and on said shaft adjacent the partition isa circular brush 25 adapted fto wipe or brush the partition 1,4 and prevent the accumulation of dust and dirt onl said partition. This partition serves as a ,deflector and causes the dust and dirt to pass through the central opening thereof, around the shaft 16' into va cylindrical passage 26 formed by a circular reservoir 27 in the rear end of the shell 12. The reservoir 27 has ai filling spout 28 extending out ofl the top of the shell 20 12 and normall closed by a cap 29. The forward end of, the reservoir, at the bottom thereofhas an extension 30 provided with a rearwardly extending jet 31 adapted to direct a Vstream or spray of water against the partition 24, so as to dampen the dust and dirt and cause ,it togather in particles that are laden with moisture and may be I' l compressed or packed, vasv will hereinafter appear. The Water within the reservoir 27 is adapted to flow by gravity to the jet 31l and said jet has a conventional form of valve 32 With'its stem 33 extending outside of the shell, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the A tive.

valve 32 may be regulated or closed to render this portion of the apparatus inopera- On the Ymotor driven shaft 16, within the passage 26, is a spiral conveyerN36 engaging the inner wall of the reservoir 27 y and adapted to convey dirt toward the rear end' of the shell12; the moistened laden. dirt being blown through `the opening of the partition 24 against the conveyer.

' mounted on said she Telescoping the rear end of the shell 12 is a container 37 which 4is. slidable n the shell and frictionallI held by a spring 38 saidspring reventin accidental displacement of t e c'ontam'er, but permitting of said container luns shifting outwardly as dust and dirt is packed against the end `wall thereof.

The rear end of the motor driven shaft 16 is provided withl a spider 39 supporting a plurzilityof radially disposed rollers 40 which are adapted' to revolve against the end Wall 37 or on dust and dirt packed against said wall. The'rollers 40 constitute l ing means'.

a member for compressing and packing dirt and other matter in the container 37 and as this 'container fills it slides from the shell 12 and just before becoming .detached it may be removed and emptied. Since the dust and dirt is moistened and packed to cake form it is obvious that the capacity of the 'container 37 is such as to serve a long while before it is necessary to empt the container and this may be accomplished without any danger of spilling the contents of.

the container or again liberating dust to the atmosphere.

Connectedto the end walls 3 of the casing 1 is a yoke or the forked end 4l of a handle 'bar 42 which may be manually manipulated to move the apparatus over a fioor. It is possible to place jthe switch 21 on the handle bar 42 and arrange the electric conductors to the apparatus so that the same will be supported by the handle bar 42 while the apparatus is movedfrom one place to another. i y

In some instances iit may not be necessary to use water orv other liquid for moistening the dirt, and when necessary I reserve the right to use oil or anyliquid that will cause the dirt and dust to solidify or pack.

In Fig. v5, the nozzle 7 of the casing is provided with a rotary brush 43 and within one end of the 4casing is a" small electric motor 44 which may have a suitable transmission device 45, as a belt, for transmitting .power to the rotary brush 43. The 'rota brush will agitate the surface over -whic the apparatus moves and as dirt, dust and other matter are operated by the brush, `the suction lwithin the Hnozzle 7 will draw the matter into the apparatus. Suitable provision may be made for controlling the operation of the motor 44, similar to the large motor 20, and in same instances, the rotary brush 43 may have movement imparted thereto by simply moving the apparatus over a surface.

apparent without further description, and

while in the drawing,.there is illustrated ai" preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the structural elements aresusceptible to such variations and modition in said casing having an axial opening .x

throu h which dirt passes from said casing 125 to said container, and vmeans adapted forcompressing the dirt in said container, and

means extendingthrough the opening of said partition for operatmgsaid compress- 2'. An apparatus as characterized in claim 1, where1n said compresslng means 1s 1n the apparatus,r a lcasing, anda dirt container slidable on the casing adapted to automatically slide relative to said casing as 'said casina is filled.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4,"

wherein the container telescopes the rear end of said casing and is adapted to have dirt packed against the end wall thereof.

.6. vacuum cleaning apparatus compris- .ing a casing adapted to receive dirt, a motor driven shaft longitudinally of said casing, a' container communicating with said casing; radially disposed means7 operated by said container and adapted to pack dirt against fthe; wall of said container, and a reservoir adapted to supply water for Inoistening the dirt prior to being packed in said container.

An apparatus as characterized in claim 6, wherein the container hasy rigid walls movable relative to saidl casing as the dirt acked therein. e

n testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses; i y

G. W. STATLER,

Y E. REMY. l

.shaft in a* plane parallel to a wall f-said' 

